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Stage-four breast cancer survivor broke down in tears at budget news

There were tears last night from Melbourne woman Samantha Courtney when Treasurer Josh Frydenburg made one particular budget announcement.

The medication Trodelvy will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), saving patients with the rare triple-negative breast cancer up to $80,000 per treatment.

"For the first time, this drug gives hope to many young women, extending their life expectancy and providing an opportunity to spend precious time with their loved ones," Mr Frydenberg told parliament.

Samantha Courtney is one of hundreds of women who will benefit from the listing of breast cancer drug Trodelvy on the PBS.

Ms Courtney, 50, has stage four metastatic breast cancer, with tumours in both breasts, her sternum and lymph nodes.

"There were a lot of tears. It's very exciting, I'm still emotional over it," Ms Courtney said of the news.

TWO MINUTE GUIDE: The key Federal Budget figures

Ms Courtney had been on a waitlist to access Trodelvy on compassionate grounds, after her cancer came back for the third time last year.

She was first diagnosed at 39, then — eight years later — she was told by doctors she had triple-negative breast cancer.

The enormous cost of Trodelvy meant it was impossible for Ms Courtney to afford without the subsidy.

"It's just not possible when you are not able to work. I don't even own my own house so I couldn't do a re-mortgage or anything," she said.

READ MORE: How this year's Federal Budget will impact women

https://twitter.com/JoshFrydenberg/status/1508728986146578437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Ms Courtney said she had heard incredible stories and read research of Trodelvy's effectiveness at reducing tumours.

"From my own research, and from people I know in a support group I am in, it can take only three shots for tumours to go down by 33 per cent and, after a couple of months, there could be no sign of tumours," she said.

"Even not to have the pain of the tumours would be incredible because it is horrendous."

WILL I GET A TAX CUT: The $420 offset explained

Clinical trials have shown Trodelvy can extend the life expectancy of patients with triple negative breast cancer.

Ms Courtney said she had been given just 18 months to live, but now hoped to spend more years enjoying time with her close-knit family.

"If it can give me more time it would be awesome," she said.

Vicki Durston is the director of policy, advocacy and member support at the Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Ms Durston said the network was excited to hear the announcement.

"For most people diagnosed with this subtype of breast cancer the cost of this drug has been out of reach," she said.

"And the drug extends life. 

"Clinical trials have shown that there is an increase of 12 months of overall survival so people are desperate to get access to this drug." 

Ms Durston said the network was now calling on the drug company, Gilead Sciences, to open up access to the treatment as soon as possible for patients.

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Budget forecasts 'more virulent' COVID-19 winter wave, restrictions

The Federal Government has raised the spectre of a more virulent mutation of COVID-19, leading to the reintroduction of nationwide restrictions in its budget documents.

The economic forecasts have been made on the assumption that further major outbreaks of COVID-19 occur later this year.

The budget papers describe two possible scenarios, the first being grimmer.

$250 PAYMENTS: Who is eligible?

An empty George Street in Sydney's CBD.

"In this scenario, a more virulent variant of concern emerges in the middle of 2022," the papers read. 

"This outbreak coincides with the winter flu season and is assumed to lead to higher numbers of cases for a longer duration and more severe illness than the initial Omicron wave. 

"As a result, at the peak of the outbreak, workforce absenteeism returns to levels similar to those experienced in January 2022."

The budget papers describe the reintroduction of restrictions.

WILL I GET A TAX CUT?: The $420 offset explained

An empty Rundle Mall during the first lockdown.

"It is assumed that baseline public health measures such as physical distancing and density limits are imposed nationally to manage the increased health risks for the duration of the outbreak. 

"Precautionary behaviour, such as reduced social mixing, and the direct impact of activity restrictions would result in weaker consumption and higher household savings than in the forecasts."

Under that scenario, unemployment would be 0.25 per cent higher than the current projection. 

TWO-MINUTE GUIDE: The key Federal Budget figures

Empty roads in Melbourne as the lockdown begins.

The second scenario is more optimistic.

"In this scenario, it is assumed that vaccines, new treatments and rising levels of immunity result in fewer cases and a more stable health environment than assumed in the forecasts," the budget papers read.

The papers also forecast the January Omicron surge, as well as the east coast floods and high petrol prices, will dampen consumption this quarter.

But those impacts are projected to recede.

"Real-time indicators suggest that the impact of the Omicron wave on consumption has been temporary and muted compared to previous waves," the papers state.

READ MORE: Winners and Losers of the 2022 Federal Budget

The high-spending budget features a series of cash splashes designed at blunting the impact of rising prices.

Six million Australians will be eligible for a one-off $250 payment to be paid next month.

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